Cabinet-lock.



(No Modal.)

G. M. FERRY &. D. LAING.

Patentefl'flct. l, l90l.

answer LOCK.

(Application filed Nov. 28, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

Patented Oct. l, l90l.

6. M. FERRY & D. LAING.

CABINET LOCK.

(Application filed Nov. 28, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

p NITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE l\'[. FERRY AND DAVID LAING, OF DUQUESNE, PENNSYLVANIA.

CABINET-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 683,852, dated October1, 1901. Application filed November 28, 1900. Serial No- 38,017. (Nomodel.)

T0 all whomit may concern:

Be it known that we,GEoReE M. FERRY and DAVID LAING, citizens of theUnited States of America, and residents of Duquesne, in the county ofAllegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new andusefullmprovements in Cabinet-Locks, of which the following is aspecification.

Our invention relates to an improvement in cabinet-locks, the primaryobject being to provide means for locking the various sections of theso-called sectional cabinet together and more particularly the drawerscontained in these sections.

\Vith the foregoing objects in view ourinvention consists in a sectionallocking mechanism capable of being extended with the addition ofcabinet-sections, whereby all the drawers may be simultaneously lockedor unlocked from a single point convenient of access.

The invention further consists in certain additional features ofconstruction and combinations of parts,'which will be hereinafter morefully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective showinga number of sections slightly removed from each other with our improvedlockin g mechanism in position. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic View showingthe entire mechanism with the drawers of a section indicated in dottedlines, and Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail showing a portion of the locking mechanism connected together to disclose the mode of operation. Fig. 4is an enlarged detail of the vertical stationary rod. Fig. 5 is a detailshowing the locking means employed for holding the horizontal and inlocked position. Fig. 6 is a detail in section showing one of thelatches in position in the vertical partitions of the cabinet, otherparts being removed. Fig. 7is a view of one of the drawers of thecabinet provided with a socket in its side. Fig.8 is an enlarged detailshowing the latch in engagement with the socket in the drawer, and Fig.9 is a detail of the socket.

A A A represent vertical stationary rods made in a number of sectionscorresponding to the number of sections in the cabinet. These rods arelocated in the vertical partitions between the drawers, one in thepartition at the right-hand side of each vertical row of drawers, or itmay be so arranged that one of these rods is located at the left handinstead, as the case maybe. Various means may be employed for fittingthe ends of these rod-sections together,-and we have shown in one of thedetail views an approved means for joining adjacent ends of theserod-sections. In the figure referred to the adjacent ends are notched,as at 1, and made to interlock, after which they are conveniently heldtogether by a screw 2 or other means. These rod-sections not onlycorrespond in number with the vertical rows of drawers in a section, butalso correspond in length with the height of said sections, so that theymay be lengthened out as a new section is added to the cabinet. At theextreme upper end a button 3, having a joint 4 precisely like thosedescribed at the ends of the rod-sections, is fitted and secured to theextreme upper end of the uppermost rod-section, and this is secured inplace in a similar manner to the mode of securing the interlocked endsof the sections. The

sectional rods being fitted preferably in a hole made through thevertical partitions of the cabinet-sections are held supported in therequired position therein by the head of this button, which is largerthan the hole, and rests upon the upper end of the top section; Anotherbutton 3 on the lower end prevents the removal of the rod.

A latch 5 is pivoted to the sectional rod opposite each drawer, and moremight be used, if desired. The manner of pivoting these latches is alsosubject to variations, and we have indicated two approved methods in thedrawings, one being in the nature of a gimbal-joint and the other anordinary pivotal connection at one side of the rod.

A movable rod 6 is disposed vertically in each vertical partition, andto these movable rods the latches are pivotally connected. These movablerods may also be made in sections corresponding in construction andnumber with those of the stationary rods.

Bell-crank levers 7 are pivoted at the extreme upper ends of the severalstationary rods, and to one end of these bell-crank levers the verticalmovable rods are pivotally connected.

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An operating-rod S is horizontally disposed across the upper end of eachcabinet-section, and this operating-rod may also be made in sectionscorresponding in length to a cabinetsection in the event that thecabinet is two or more sections wide. To this horizontallydisposedoperating-rod 8 the other ends of the bell-crank levers are pivotallyconnected, and the endwise movements of this horizontal rod aresimultaneously communicated to the entire set of latches and the seriesof drawers are all locked or unlocked through the medium of the severalvertical movable rods, which are connected to the bell-crank levers andto the latches. lVhile this action may be accomplished by positivelysliding the horizontal rod in or out, we prefer to apply the spiralspring 9 at one end of this rod, to the purpose of normally forcing therod outward when not otherwise hindered, thereby simultaneouslyunlocking all of the drawers. Then when it is desired to lock them thehorizontal rod is merely pushed inward, the several latches enteringsockets 10 in the sides of the drawers opposite them, and when in thisposition a spring-lock or other means 11 is employed to fasten thishorizontal rod in its extreme inward position.

Obviously this mechanism may be multiplied indefinitely in accordancewith the nu mber of cabinet-sections employed, and the entire lockingmechanism will operate in the same manner and can be actuated andcontrolled from a single given point.

It is evident that slight changes might be made in the form andarrangement of the several parts described without departing from thespirit and scope of our invention, and hence we do not wish to limitourselves to the exact construction herein set forth; but

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A locking mechanism forsectional cabinets comprising a movable and astationary rod, latches pivotally connected with these rods, and meansforsimultaneouslyoperating the several latches.

2. Alocking mechanism for a series of movable devices consisting of aplurality of movable latches, rods connecting said latches, bell-cranklevers pivotally supported at one point and pivotally connected to theserods and an operating-rod to which these bellcrank levers are pivotallyconnected whereby the latches are operated simultaneously.

3. Alockingmechanism foraseries of movable devices consisting of aplurality of movable latches, rods connecting said latches, bell-cranklevers pivotally supported at one point and pivotally connected to theserods, an operating-rod to which these bell-crank levers are pivotallyconnected whereby the latches are operated simultaneously and means forlocking this operating-rod whereby all the latches are secured in place.

4. Alockingmechanism foraseries of movable devices, consisting of aplurality of movable latches, rods connecting said latches, bell-cranklevers pivotally supported at one pointand pivotally connected to theserods, a spring-actuated operating-rod to which these bell crank leversare pivotally connected whereby the latches are operated simultaneouslyand means for locking this operatingrod whereby all the latches aresecured in place.

5. Alocking mechanism for simultaneously locking a plu rality of drawersin two or more sections of a cabinet, consisting of movable latches, astationary and a movable rod, said rods made in sections, to which thelatches are connected, and operating means adapted to be actuated from agiven point whereby to operate and control the several latches.

6. In a eabinet-lock, the combination with rods made in sections withinterlockingjoints, latches pivoted thereto and rods pivotally connectedto the latches for simultaneously operating them, of a' mainoperatingrod, means for controlling this rod and means for communicatingmotion from the operatingrod to the rods pivotally connected with thelatches.

7. The combination with a rod composed of interlocking sections and abutton con structed and adapted to interlock and be secured to the upperend of the uppermost section of the sectional rod, of latches pivotallyconnected to this sectional rod and means for simultaneously operatingthese latches.

S. A locking mechanism for a series of movable devices, consisting of aplurality of latches movable and stationary rods to which the latchesare pivoted, sockets in the movable devices, for receiving the free endsof the latches, and means for operating the several latches.

9. Alocking mechanism for aseries of movable devices, consisting of aplurality of latches movable and stationary rods to which the latchesare pivoted, sockets in the movable devices, for receiving the free endsot the latches, the sockets formed with an inclined inner wall.

10. A locking mechanism for sectional cabinets comprising a movable anda stationary rod, latches secured to these rods, and means for operatingthe several latches, this means provided with a positive lock forretaining the latches in closed position.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE M. FERRY.

DAVID LAING. Witnesses:

WATTs EsrABRooK, RALPH S. XVARFIELD.

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